January 29, 2013

MIAMI (AP) — Gov. Rick Scott says all 23 state colleges offering four-year degrees in Florida have accepted his $10,000 tuition challenge.

The Republican governor made the announcement at Miami-Dade College on Monday.

Scott in November challenged the schools to hold tuition to $10,000 for selected four-year degrees. That’s more than $3,000 under the average for the state colleges. They already charge about half as much as Florida’s public universities.

Florida has 28 state and community colleges but five of the schools offer only two-year degrees.

Scott wants the low-cost degrees to be “in fields that will provide the graduates with the best opportunity for employment.”

The governor also has opposed college and university tuition increases. Tuition rates have gone up in recent years due to cuts in state funding.